Sunday, August 28, 2016

Do your students need a visual reminder of how to do a Close Reading every time they read? Are posters and pieces of paper with the steps of Close Reading lost or ignored while students are reading? Then you need to check out my Nonfiction Close Reading Bookmarks!

I use the Nonfiction Close Reading Bookmarks most often during my core classes, particularly science. I recommend that you print and laminate
these bookmarks for each student to keep with them as they read a number of
nonfiction texts. It works particularly
well as a bookmark for your classroom textbooks.

Option 1: Copy a textbook page or article for each
student in class. Have students mark
directly on the page with colored pencils.

Option 2 if you have a copy limit:
Laminate enough articles for a small group or put them in a page
protector. That way, you can use
dry-erase markers to annotate “on” the text, but not have to make so many
copies. You can easily reuse the same
article or page many times until all students have been able to have the Close
Reading experience with that article.

Option 3 if you want to annotate a
textbook: Clip a page protector to the book using a
binder clip. Again, this allows students
to use
dry-erase markers to annotate “on” the text, but not damage the textbook.

This file includes:For the teacher:~Different options/directions for using the bookmarks to annotate texts For the student:~Directions that guide the student to read and reread the text 3 times~Directions that guide the student to use a dictionary and/or ask for help with clarifying unknown terms and content~Directions on how to summarize the text

Sunday, August 14, 2016

Want to practice alphabet/letter recognition skills? Then check out this easy sensory box made with materials from the Dollar Tree!

I like to use an all-black backdrop when I make my sensory boxes. To do this, I like to use a combination of smooth stones and black beans from the Dollar Tree. It really makes the materials stand out!

One of my favorite sensory boxes is the Alphabet Box. All you have to do is add magnetic letters to the rocks and beans. I like to use both upper and lower-case letters so my son is familiar with both. These are Melissa and Doug magnetic letters, but any letters will do.

When the letters are mixed in with the beans and rocks, I call out a letter. My son finds it and places it in the metal cake pan.

Yes, the activity and child are in a box. This is for two reasons: First, he loves playing in boxes. Not. Even. Kidding. Secondly, note that all the stray beans and rocks are contained. It makes clean up a snap and spares me from slipping on them later.

Do you have any alphabet/letter sensory boxes that you just couldn't live without? I'd love to get some more ideas!